A CHARGED-PARTICLE MICROBEAM .1. DEVELOPMENT OF AN EXPERIMENTAL SYSTEM FOR TARGETING CELLS INDIVIDUALLY WITH COUNTED PARTICLES

Charged-particle microbeams provide a unique opportunity to control pr ecisely, the dose to individual cells and the localization of dose wit hin the cell. The Gray Laboratory is now routinely operating a charged -particle microbeam capable of delivering targeted and counted particl es to individual cells, at a dose-rate sufficient to permit a number o f single-cell assays of radiation damage to be implemented. By this me ans, it is possible to study a number of important radiobiological pro cesses in ways that cannot be achieved using conventional methods. Thi s report describes the rationale, development and current capabilities of the Gray Laboratory microbeam.